Crime Story Review

By 1993, Jackie Chan was at the height of his career, having already demonstrated his mastery of action and comedy with films like Police Story, Drunken Master, and Dragons Forever. In the years leading up to ’93, he had starred in Police Story 3: Supercop, which would later become a breakout hit for Chan when it was released in the U.S. in 1996. Shortly after, he would headline an all-time classic with Drunken Master II (known in the West as The Legend of the Drunken Master). I mention this context because, in 1993, Jackie Chan took on possibly his most ambitious project to date—and the biggest anomaly compared to his usual action-comedy formula at the time.

Crime Story, directed by Kirk Wong, stands out as a striking outlier in Jackie Chan’s filmography during his peak in the ’80s and ’90s. Rated Category III (the highest age classification in Hong Kong), it eschews many of the trademarks typically found in a Jackie Chan film. Instead, Crime Story delves into darker territory as a gritty crime thriller, packed with blood-soaked action and genuine character drama. Jackie Chan wouldn’t revisit such a serious and distinctive approach until later in his career with films like The Shinjuku Incident and The Foreigner. Originally released on Blu-ray in 2019 by 88 Films, the distributor has now revisited this bold and unconventional entry with a new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray edition—marking the most definitive version to date.

The film follows Eddie Chan (Jackie Chan), a CID police officer suffering from severe emotional stress after killing several gunmen during a public shootout. Upon returning to duty, he is assigned to protect Wong Yat-Fei (Law Kar-ying), a controversial businessman who believes someone is plotting to kidnap him. His fears soon prove justified when he is abducted, and Eddie must track down the kidnappers—who may be closer than expected, as Eddie’s new partner, Inspector Hung (Kent Cheng), is secretly one of them.

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Right from the outset, the film’s serious and dramatic tone is evident, beginning with Eddie’s psychological evaluation following the traumatic shooting. This scene portrays a man mentally scarred by recent events. When the doctor reaches out to comfort him, Eddie instinctively reacts defensively, showing how—even while simply recounting the incident—his mind still perceives it as unfolding in the present, with his life in danger. The opening action sequence effectively reinforces this darker tone, contrasting with Jackie Chan’s earlier use of guns in Police Story. The heroic, energetic tone is gone; instead, we see a man fighting for survival as four gunmen open fire on civilians.

Inspector Hung, played expertly by Kent Cheng in a rare dramatic role—he’s typically cast as lovable or comedic characters—perfectly embodies this shift in tone. As both a cop and a criminal, Hung walks a dangerous tightrope throughout the film. One misstep could lead to devastating consequences, and watching how he evades detection is genuinely thrilling. That said, some of the methods he uses to remain hidden require a bit of suspension of disbelief, especially since his character is portrayed as deeply sinister throughout.

Action-wise, Crime Story features some gripping set pieces. The opening scene is an excellent tone-setter with creative stunt work. The kidnapping sequence is intense and chaotic, featuring multiple car crashes and a death that—while not excessively graphic—is still shocking. In one moment, Eddie removes the helmet of a wounded police officer, and blood pours from the man’s skull. It’s a sudden, brutal image that left me in genuine shock. The rest of the action, while still bearing Jackie Chan’s signature style, is filtered through a darker lens, fitting the film’s more serious tone.

The 4K transfer of Crime Story is stunning. While it might not be a reference disc to show off your home cinema setup, it’s easily the best the film has ever looked. This is an upgrade in every sense. Ignoring the 4K-exclusive features for a moment, this new release offers a fresh 4K remaster from the original 35mm negative—an improvement over the 2019 Blu-ray, which was sourced from a 2K scan. The added resolution captures subtle details in the film stock—Jackie Chan’s pores have never looked this sharp. The disc includes both Dolby Vision and HDR10 support, allowing for a broader and more dynamic colour range. It’s also packed with bonus features, including audio commentaries, archival interviews, and other goodies that will please collectors.

Crime Story may not be my favourite Jackie Chan film, but I admire the bold shift in direction he took, especially during the peak of his popularity. This new release from 88 Films is unquestionably the definitive way to experience the film—though whether it’s worth the £35 price tag will depend on the viewer. If you’ve never seen it, you might hesitate to jump in at that price. But for longtime fans of Jackie Chan’s entire body of work, this is a day-one purchase and a worthy upgrade over previous releases.

★★★1/2

Available on 4k Blu-ray from 23 June / Jackie Chan, Kent Cheng, Christine Ng, Law Kar-ying, Susanna Au-Yeung / Dir: Kirk Wong / 88 Films / 18

Special Features on Release:

• New 4K remaster from the Original Negatives presented in Ultra High Definition (2160p) in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Presented in Dolby Vision (HDR10 Compatible)
• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation also included
• Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Mono with English Subtitles
• Cantonese 5.1 DTS HR with English Subtitles
• English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• English 5.1 DTS HR
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by NY Asian Film Festival’s Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto
• Audio Commentary by Arne Venema & Hong Kong Film Expert Mike Leeder
• Tony Rayns on Crime Story
• Victor Fan on Crime Story
• Looking for a new Direction: Assistant Director P’ng Kialek remembers Crime Story
• Police Story on Crack! Mike Leeder on Kirk Wong’s Crime Story
• Archive Interview with Stuntman Bruce Law
• Archive Interview with Writer Teddy Chan Talk-Sum
• Archive Interview with Director Kirk Wong
• Deleted Scenes with newly translated English Subtitles
• Original Trailer
• Double-sided sleeve featuring original Hong Kong Poster & brand-new art by Sean Longmore

About the Author

Robert Ewing

Author

Rob is a freelance film critic and writer who specialises in Anime and Asian cinema. I have adored film since a young age, having watched films that were far too old for me, such as RoboCop, Die Hard, and Hot Tub Time Machine, to discovering the heights of foreign cinema through films like Headhunters and Battle Royale. Growing up with such a diverse catalogue of films that I cherished sparked my desire to discuss them. This passion eventually led me to become a reviewer. Dissecting films, speaking to filmmakers I admire, and showcasing the best of Asian and anime cinema is how I live my best and truest life.

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